In 1986,
the U.S. Congress passed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA). Title III of SARA is known as the Emergency
Planning and Community-Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Section
313 of EPCRA required the EPA to establish a Toxics Release
Inventory. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA) further
required the EPA to collect data on source reduction and
recycling activities at EPCRA targeted facilities. A wide
range of industries was affected.
One provision of the Act -- the Toxics Release Inventory --
requires the reporting of these chemicals on an annual basis.
Initially, the provision primarily targeted chemical and
other industrial facilities, including paper, printing,
lumber and plastics. In 1997, the EPA added seven more industries,
including electric utilities.
Other industries reporting for the first time in 1999 included
coal mining, metal mining and chemical wholesalers. Industries
reporting since 1987 include food, paper, plastics, electrical
equipment, furniture, textiles, chemical, printing, lumber,
apparel, tobacco and petroleum.
Coal- and oil-fired generating plants, considered to "coincidentally
manufacture" some TRI chemicals in the electricity production
process, were added to the TRI list in 1997.
Richmond Power and Light will annually report all substances as required
by EPA. It is important to note that all the substances
listed are not released into the environment. In all cases
any release of substances from this factor is under the
allowable limits mandated by the EPA. Some are contained
and professionally handled, and are necessary to the day
to day operations of the generation of electricity.
Terminology is critical in understanding the report to EPA. Modern industrialization
has brought about the use of substances to the forefront.
The implication here is simply that these substances are
present and not necessarily a detriment to the community.
Substances can either be "manufactured" or "otherwise used".
Manufactured substances are a direct result of electric
production process. Otherwise used substances are inherent
in the day to day maintenance and care of electric generation
equipment and are always on site. We are always looking
for ways to limit or eliminate the use of substances at
our facility. For example, we have stopped using hydrazine
as a boiler treatment.
Richmond Power & Light has and always will follow federal and
state substance requirements. Annually we file and receive the
necessary permits to use any substance located on our premises.
We have well trained employees who are responsible for the containment
and safe use of any substance here at Richmond Power & Light.
We also aggressively investigated new cutting edge technologies,
in some cases we were the first in the state and the nation
to implement these very technologies (see timeline below).
Richmond Power & Light is committed to being a good steward of the
environment, and a good partner with our community. As the
community grows, so does its need for our services. We recognize
that being environmentally sensitive is not only good for
the community, but it helps us as well. We must be good
stewards of the environment in order to harness its potential
for many years to come.
Richmond Power & Light is actively involved in preserving and enhancing
our environment here in the Richmond Community.
RP&L's Environmental Timeline...
1972 - 1973
Installed Lodge-Cottrell (now Research Cottrell) electrostatic
precipitators on both the #1 unit and the just completed
#2 unit (1973). The #1 unit had mechanical cyclones as the
original particulate removal technology but new legislation
as well as technological advances in pollution control necessitated
a change in equipment. Typical removal efficiencies for
both precipitators are in the 99+% range. Control upgrades
in the early 1990's raised removal efficiency and reliability
even higher.
1980
Installed low NOX burners on #2 unit. Technology was by
Combustion Engineering. First utility in nation to utilize
such burners.
1986 - 1989
RP&L was selected as a host site to install and operate
as a demonstration facility for the Limestone Injection
Multistage Burner (LIMB) system. The technology was part
of the clean coal technology program (Department of Energy),
managed by Energy and Environmental Research Company. The
project was essentially an SO2 reduction project designed
to remove up to 70% - 80% of SO2 in coal combustion flue
gas. The project was successful in providing valuable information
on calcium based SO2 reduction technologies and set the
stage for further projects for RP&L.
1989
Completed construction of a 325 foot good engineering practice
combined smoke stack for 2 coal fired units at Whitewater
Valley Generating Station. Construction was performed in
approximately one year. Total gas flow through the stack
is approximately 420,000 ACFM (actual cubic foot per minute)
with both units running at maximum.
1990
Applied for and received a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit covering wastewater discharges
from Whitewater Valley Generating Station.
1990 - 1991
RP&L was again selected to host a round 3 clean coal technology
program known as LIFAC (Limestone Injection into the Furnace
and Activation of unreacted Calcium Oxide). This was another
SO2 reduction technology specifically suited for existing
unit retrofits. The technology was of Finnish origin, the
parent company being Tampella of Finland. This program again
used "in furnace injection" of a calcium based sorbent;
however, this particular technology made use of an external
reactor for humidification of the flue gas. Target removal
rates were 80% - 85% SO2 and higher utilization ratio's
because of sorbent reinjection/recirculation. The project
ended in approximately 1994.
1994
Installed a Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMs),
designed and built by KVB, on our 325 foot common stack.
Also installed monitors furnished by Thermo-Environmental
Company (TECO). The system continuously monitors and logs
all applicable pollutant concentrations (NOX, SO2, CO2)
as well as stack gas flow rate and particulate level (opacity).
The system provides RP&L necessary feedback as to whether
it is meeting its air emission limits.
1997
RP&L made significant improvements in its #2 unit low NOX
burners and installed on #1 unit low NOX burners. The burners
on the #1 unit are of somewhat more efficient and more effective
design, however, the combination of burners on both units
allowed RP&L to go from a NOX emission rate of 0.75 - 0.80
lbs NOX/MMBTU down to approximately 0.38 - 0.44 lbs NOX/MMBTU.
This indeed was a significant improvement in our overall
air emissions level.
1999
In October of 1999 fall outage improvements were made to
unit 1 low NOX burners. A new spreader design and core air
were added to enhance NOX control and combustion efficiency.
RP&L worked with ABB ALSTOM POWER in the implementation
of the burner modifications which have proven to be beneficial
to us.
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